Whenever I hear concerns about self-censorship (and I work at a university, so I hear them a lot!), I think about the fact that part of college is helping people grow into productive and thoughtful members of society, that part of that process is figuring out how to calibrate what you say for different audiences and purposes, and that navigating consequences when you miscalculate is a critical learning and growing experience.
I sense that a lot of students (actually, more often parents) who talk about “self-censorship” are talking about not wanting to be judged for their beliefs or simply not wanting to be perceived as going against the grain. Which is natural! But figuring out how to navigate this—when to express a contrary viewpoint, how to express it to a particular audience, how to process/navigate responses to your viewpoint—is a big part of being a successful adult.
There are things I just don’t discuss with some friends because I know we won’t agree and it’s not worth the heartache. There are ways I share my viewpoint with my boss when I disagree with him—and there are times when I keep my mouth shut. Even on this near-anonymous forum, I pick my moments.
When students decide to air a dissenting opinion or not, they are making this sort of judgment. It can be uncomfortable, and it can be dissatisfying to stay quiet (and upsetting to get blowback to an unpopular opinion—or empowering!). But those are situations they will need to navigate their whole lives.
Hey mama, it’s your money so I would just tell your daughter that if you are going to shell out tens of thousands of dollars and send the most precious person in your life to a place to live for 4 years, then it needs to be somewhere you are comfortable with. Full stop.
TBH, students at Smith will be taught/encouraged/to speak their minds, defend their beliefs and to become strong women. They’d probably learn that more so in an environment like Smith than at a large U.
Still wonder what the OP would think if their daughter was invited into the STRIDE program, complete with a scholarship ($22,500/yr) and paid research opportunity ($3k annual stipend). Would they (sounds like the OP is the dad??) be more willing to let their daughter attend?
If either of my kids had expressed an interested in a school like Liberty or Hillsdale or what have you (this is completely hypothetical since there was a less than zero chance they’d have considered it) I’d have said “hard no”, but I’d also admit, if asked, that I was being closed minded about that!!
I might be wrong, but I don’t think this person is a “mama”. (Putting aside the fact that many women I know dislike when people other than their kids call them that…)
Well they will have to be understanding about that I suppose because I am a southern lady and we do call other mamas ‘mama’ in these types of situations. For example ‘hugs mama’.
It’s a cultural thing and offered in a very loving manner.
If the original poster is a daddy- my apologies for calling you mama, lol.
Feels like I’m a little late to the discussion which is already more than a week old (is there still an actual issue at stake?) I would point out, however, that at a college of Smith’s caliber the vast majority of students are going to be consumed with facts and discoveries far outside the realm of quotidian, partisan politics. I attended a similarly small, New England college during the midst of the Vietnam War and other than a few majorly disruptive moments in history (Kent State, the invasion of Cambodia) there was almost never a moment when I wasn’t more concerned with keeping up with my reading assignments.
Yes, you’re being narrowly concerned as well as narrow minded.
I wouldnt send a child to Smith. At one point had considered a women’s school, but fortunately our college counselor pointed out that those schools have a very specific atmosphere now, which one may or may not like but in any event should visit and be aware of before committing to. I wanted my kids to have a more conventional experience.
Of course.
Those interested should glance at Smith’s career outcome report for the recent 3 classes. They produce lots of teachers, if that is of interest. Smith itself is the most common employer.
In a way it is refreshing to see a parent on CC worried about sending their student to a school that is too liberal. Most of the related posts are from parents who are worried that their kid might meet a Republican on campus or have their views questioned. My apologies for the snark, but sadly that is what I have seen the past couple years.
Regarding the political climate on college campuses, I think there are two questions. First, how left does the campus lean? As a general rule, colleges in the US trend much farther left than the general population. Of course, a NE LAC will be more liberal than a southern public university, and STEM schools will lean less left than liberal arts colleges. The second - and more important - question is how open to free speech, reasoned debate, and open inquiry is the campus? Sadly, at some schools the inmates are running the asylum and small vocal groups shout down guest speakers that question the favored narrative, stringent speech codes prevent students from stating simple facts that might possibly offend some hypersensitive student, and professors have to be careful what they say in class less the aforementioned hypersensitive student report them. There are, of course, campuses that might lean left, but still protect open inquiry and free speech (kudos to you, University of Chicago).
I would recommend looking at Fire’s ranking of Smith. If you are not familiar with FIRE they rank 248 of the top universities in the US based on speech codes, student surveys, and how well administrators defend speakers and scholars on campus. They have been in the news lately because Harvard ranked dead last with an “abysmal” ranking. Smith ranks 168/248 with a “slightly below average” ranking. Here is a link: Free Speech Rankings
I actually cannot remember anything like that coming up here. Frankly, I think most liberal parents and liberal kids know there will be plenty of liberal kids at virtually any secular “national” US college today, so it is a non-issue for them.
This doesn’t mean I think conservative kids worrying about whether there will be enough conservative kids are wrong to be concerned, and indeed I think for them there is a real issue depending on the community they are looking for. I just don’t recall liberal kids having similar concerns, for fairly obvious reasons.
I’ve noticed a few posts regarding the state of reproductive rights in certain surrounding regions. But you are correct, the college in question is invariably a liberal-minded campus.
Yes, and also some concerns about LGBTQ+ friendliness, ADL ratings, and so on. But obviously none of that is about entirely excluding Republicans or such.
Oh lord. I tried sitting on my hands and not commenting but I just can’t stop myself. The notion that Smith’s career outcomes are somehow a liability is mind-boggling. Smith College is a premier institution with a long history of producing leaders in multiple fields and industries. Out of the Smith seniors I know graduating this year almost every one has a paid job lined up–in government, in banking, in scientific research, in marketing, and yes, in shudder education (typed by a lifelong educator who is married to an educator and who is also the daughter of an educator).
And the comment that all historically women’s colleges have a similar atmosphere is equally problematic. I attended Wellesley College and Mills College, my child is a Smithie, and my best friend went to Agnes Scott. All are/were excellent schools with decidedly different cultures, traditions, and opportunities. And I guarantee women who attended Sweet Briar, and Scripps, and Hollins University all have their own unique campus cultures/experiences. That’s like saying all Christian-affiliated colleges offer a “specific atmosphere”… would anyone claim Baylor has the same atmosphere as St. Olaf or Earlham?
I can assure you my Smithie takes part in many hallmarks of a “conventional” college experience–if you have never attended a Smith College basketball game you have no idea what school spirit looks like on a historically women’s college campus!
Granted, I engaged in a bit of hyperbole with my “meet a Republican comment”, but I have seen many posts that fall into one or more of three categories. First, is the college in question liberal enough for a very progressive student. Second, sure the school is liberal enough, but is the state too conservative (think Texas at Austin). Third, the school is liberal enough, but it is in a state that has some restrictions on abortion and my daughter won’t go there.
While I agree that self censorship at college campuses is driven in part by social pressure, there are enough reports about professors singling out students that don’t toe the political line in class or even penalizing them while grading to realize that the issue is more fundamental and insidious.
